Director/producer fills out the role of Troy in "Fences"

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Gayle Samuels plays “Rose” and Ron Himes plays the role of “Troy” as USI’s New Harmony Theatre gets ready to present “Fences,” August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about stolen and forfeited dreams in an African American household in the 1950s. Fences, directed by Elliot Wasserman, runs July 5-7 and July 12-14.

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Ron Himes, left, plays the role of “Troy” and Marcus Callender plays “Cory” as USI’s New Harmony Theatre gets ready to open “Fences,” August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about stolen and forfeited dreams in an African American household in the 1950s. Fences, directed by Elliot Wasserman, runs July 5-7 and July 12-14.

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Ron Himes plays the role of “Troy” as USI’s New Harmony Theatre gets ready to produce “Fences,” August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about stolen and forfeited dreams in an African American household in the 1950s. Fences, directed by Elliot Wasserman, runs July 5-7 and July 12-14.

2013 Jason Clark

Ron Himes watched "Fences" on Broadway, produced it in St. Louis and directed it in Knoxville, Tenn. After nearly four decades in theater, however, he never expected to play the lead in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play anywhere.

When Elliot Wasserman, director for New Harmony Theatre's production, asked him to play Troy, the embittered ex-ballplayer at the center of Wilson's story, "I was very surprised," said Himes.

The role qualifies as monumental on several levels, Himes explained.

Physically, Troy is a large man of substantial girth and strength. Once a standout baseball slugger, he carries the weight of bitter years spent emptying brimming barrels into garbage trucks in the job he settled for after the racial barrier shut out his major league dreams.

He's also an angry, blustery orator whose command of the language ability to tell a story make him "one of the most eloquent characters on the American stage," Himes said during a recent break from rehearsals.

And then there's the Jones factor. When Himes saw James Earl Jones play the part on Broadway, the barrel-chested actor with the rumbling baritone was "bigger than life," said Himes. "He put his stamp on the role."

Since then, of course, lots of other actors have hit homers playing Troy. Himes looks forward to stepping up to the plate to take his own swing at it Friday, when the production opens in New Harmony, Ind.

At "about six feet," he said, Himes may not be as physically imposing as some who've played the part, but he knows there's more to Troy's stature than height and girth. "I'm filling him out from the inside," he said.

The 60-year-old actor has drawn on his own life and from those around him to create his own Troy. There's some of his father, some of a brother, "and some of Mr. Nathan" in his portrayal, he said. Mr. Nathan was a St. Louis neighbor who had played ball in the Negro League, Himes explained. "He always told us stories about (legendary pitcher) Satchel Paige and playing in the Negro Leagues."

Himes comes to the part with impressive stats as an actor, director, producer and teacher. The St. Louis native founded The Black Rep 37 years ago while a student at Washington University, where he's served as an artist in residence for the last two dozen years. Over the years he's been featured in scores of roles in St. Louis and across the country, including parts in six of the 10 titles in Wilson's canon of plays looking at African Americans' lives in each decade of the 20th century.

Himes met the playwright several times over the years. Once, when he complained to Wilson about The Black Rep's problems getting the rights some of his plays, the playwright offered a solution. "Call me," said Wilson. "Here's my number."

Good to his word, when Himes called, Wilson contacted the licensing representatives for him. "He would say ‘Clear these rights for them,'" said Himes, and the show would go on. The author's intervention helped Himes' own company, The Black Rep, become the second theater in the nation to produce all 10 plays in Wilson's Century Cycle, he said.

"Fences," which debuted in 1987, was the first play in the canon to win the Pulitzer Prize. Wilson won it again in 1990 with "The Piano Lesson." He finished the cycle with "Radio Golf," which came out in 2005, the same year liver cancer claimed the 60-year-old playwright's life.

Himes is one four Actors Equity members in New Harmony Theatre's seven-member "Fences" cast. All of the adults have performed professionally in theaters across the country. Two local children, Jada Hoover and Jazmine Ragland, will appear in production as well.

The play looks at how Troy's bitterness over dashed dreams resonates in relationships with his friends and family, most particularly a son wrestling with dreams of his own.

While the "Fences" focuses on African Americans, the central issues are universal, said Himes.

"Regardless of who you are, you've got to be able to relate to (Troy) and these other characters and their story," Himes said. "I think this is probably a very very good pick for New Harmony Theatre."

IF YOU GO

What: New Harmony Theatre presents an Actors Equity production of "Fences," August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about stolen and forfeited dreams among African Americans in a 1950s household in Pittsburgh.

When: July 5 through 14, playing at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Where: Murphy Auditorium, 419 Tavern St., New Harmony, Ind.

Tickets: $28 for adults, $26 for those 60 and older and $10 for those 25 and younger. For reservations or information, visit www.newharmonytheatre.com or call 812-682-3115 or 877-648-7469.